Invalid lift and transfer device



Aug. 28, 1951 s. B. DEAN INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 Sabren B. Dean INVENTOR.

and away lag Aug. 28, 1951 s. B. DEAN INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 Sebren 8. Dean INVENTOR.

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MW WM S. B. DEAN INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE Aug. 28, 1951' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 Sebren 5. Dean IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in appurtenances for hospital use.

An object of this invention istc raise and lower a patient prior to and after transportation of the patent.

Another object of this invention is to raise a patient, then move the patient to a position on the top portion of a wheeled chassis.

Another object of this invention is to move the patient from the wheeled chassis to a position immediately above a conventional bed, then lower the patient on the bed.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for carrying out the above mentioned function.

A still further object of this invention is to journal a pair of shafts for rotation in opposite directions, which shafts have means for attachment with a sheet, whereby the sheet may be attached to the shafts, then drawn taut with a patient thereon.

Another object of this invention is to handle patients with more facility and ease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified device for performing various operations in raising, lowering and transporting patients.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure I is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention, showing the same in use;

Figure 2 is a side view of the preferred form of the invention;

Figure 3 is an. end view of the device shown in Figure 2, again showing the invention in use;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown'in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a sectional. view taken on the line 6-6 of'Figure 4;

Figure l is a sectional view taken on the line T-'l of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing details of construction;

Figure 9 is a. fragmentary sectional view shown in elevation, illustrating. the ratchet construction;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the detail. of construction shown in Figure 9, and

Figure 11 .is a. perspective view of the hinge used for connecting the track to the platform.

Referring to Figure 1 attention is directed initially to a sheet 10' having a plurality of spaced slots l2 adjacent opposite marginal edges. The slots of course, may be reinforced by any suitable -means and any suitable size of sheet may be supplied. Suitable strength material is preferred in the said sheet l0 whereby the entire weight of a patient may be supported, when. the sheet is grasped or held by themar'ginal' edges wherein the slots ii are supplied.

A chassis generally indicated at I4 is supplied with a plurality of tubular legs l6, all of which are identical. These legs have casterassemblies generally indicated at H3 at one terminal there-' of and rods- 20 'slidably received in the bore thereof at the opposite end thereof. Framing members 22 as well as suitable support or stiffening elements "24' are included in the said chassis II, as is a conventional jack generally indicated at 26. This jack is preferably at substantially the central portion of the said chassis I4 and has an actuating rod 28- extending therefrom. This actuating rod is utilized for the purpose of rais ing and lowering the plunger 29 of the said jack 26. Of course, any suitable jack may be utilized, preferably'of the hydraulic type.

A platform 30 is juxtaposed relative to the chassis t4" and has the-said rod'20 rigidly secured thereto. Of-course,'the rod cooperating with the bores of the sleeves-or legs l6 form a guide means for the raising and lowering of the said platform. The plunger 29 of the said jack is operatively connected with the platformfor this raising and lowering.

Substantially channel-shaped guides 32 (see Figure 11) are associated with the said platform 30. These guides areformed with grooves 34 at the base thereof in order to accommodate rollers to be described subsequently. It will be noted from Figure 1 that the said guides 3-2 are at opposite marginal edges of the platform 30 and preferably along the shorter edges of the substantially rectangular platform. A pair of rails or tracks 36 and 38 respectively are hingedly associated with opposite ends of the guides 32. These tracks or rails are formed with grooves 34" adapted to align with the grooves 34 which are formed in the channel-shaped guides 32. Further, a conventionalhinge 40 is supplied at each junction of a single guide 32'and rail or track 36. By this construction the tracks are permitted to be hingec'l'l'y actuated only a predetermined amount. In order to strengthen the junction.

A carriage consisting of a pair of channel;

members 46 and 48 respectively and other struc tural appurtenances is rollingly supported on the said rails as well as the said guides. The othersaid appurtenances contiguous to the carriage include a plurality of rollers'50 (see Figure 5) which are supported in conventional brackets 52.

Of course, the said brackets are rigidly secured to saidchannel rails 46 and 48 and the rollers. 58 areof such width to be seated in the grooves 34 and34'-.-

A pair of shafts 56 and 58 respectively are journaled inthe opposed, channel members .46 and 48 and have a plurality of spaced flanges or protuberances .68 rigidly secured thereto. These protuberances are of such proportions as to be complemental to the'said slots I2. It may now be readily seen that .upon seating the slots I2 of, the said sheet on the protuberances 88, the shafts may be rotated in opposite directions thereby winding the sheet therearound.

In performing this operation the preferable construction for such a performance may be seen bestin Figures5 and 8. A stub shaft 62 is illustrated as being journalled in; a boss formed in the said channel member4-6 and has a bevel gear 64 rigidly secured thereto, preferably by means of a pin 86,.fitted in suitable slots. 1 A complemental bevel gear 68 is then journalled on a suitable pin 18, which is provided in a bearing II on the channel member 46. The gears 68 and 64 are in mesh and a suitable handle 12 may be supplied on the saidgear 64 by any suitable means for rotation of the gears.

Upon rotation of the gear 64, the said shaft 62 will also be rotated thereby carrying with it ashaft 58. The transmission of power from the shaft 62 to the said shaft 58; may be seen as preferably' including a pinion 14 pinned to the said shaft 62, which is in mesh with a gear I6 rigidly secured to the interior of said shaft 58. It is now obvious that upon rotation of the handle I2, the shaft 58 Will accordingly be rotated.

The opposite end of the said shaft 58 is journalled in a suitable bearing 88 supplied in the said channel member 48.. Of course, it is understood that the gear mechanism including the bevel gears 68 and 64 may also be positioned on a suitable bearing-block (see Figure 5) 82 in lieu of being attached directly to the channel member 46. This is of course, a detail of mechanical structure which'may be resorted to.

A backing collar 83 is secured to the said shaft 58' adjacent the bearing 88 and limits the travel of the bearing 88 relative to the shaft 58. A suitable, conventional set screw 84 may be used for maintaining the thrust bearing 83 in place. Fur.-

.ther, lubricant receiving grooves 88 and 83 respectively may be supplied in the bearing 88 and in the bearing block 82 respectively for the obvious lubrication function. 1 1

A sprocket 98 is secured tothe terminal portion of said shaft 58 and has a conventional sprocket chain 92 extending therearound. The

:bers 46 and 48.

4 opposite end of said chain is journalled around a sprocket 94. Said sprocket 94 is journalled on a suitable stub shaft, which also has a gear 96 associated therewith. In viewing Figure 6 it will be seen that the said stub shaft may be a simple bolt 98 having conventional nuts I88 secured thereto. The said gear 96 is in mesh with a gear I82 which is in turn secured to the said shaft 56. Thrust bearings I84'and- I86 respectively maybe supplied on the said shaft 56 {for limiting the travel of the said shaft 56 relative to the channel mem- By this expedient rotation of the said shaft 58in one direction will produce corresponding rotation of the said shaft 55 in the opposite direction.

Suitable bearing blocks I 88 and I I8 are secured V to the said shaft "56 and the lubricant receiving bores H2 and H4 are formed therein and through the flange of the channel members 48 and 46, similar to the above described bearing block 88 and its appurtenant bore 86.

Secured to the periphery of the said shaft 58 is a pair of gears I28 and I22 which are adjacent each other. However, the teeth on the gear are especially provided for ratchet purposes and are facing in opposite directions. A double dog I24 is journalled on a pin I26 carried in a sleeve I21 which is in turn supplied ina suitable boss I25 which is either formed integral with the bearing block 82 or rigidly secured thereto. A ratchet spring I28 preferably of .the leaf type is secured to the boss I25. A knurled trip pin I38 is secured to the double dog I24 for, actuation purposes, for slipping the double dog to the desired position, depending upon which direction of rotation of the said shaft 58 is to be prohibited. Inspection of Figure 10 discloses the cam-shaped flats I32 and I34 on the said doubledog which are cooperative with the spring I28 in the functioning of the ratchet. I I

From the foregoing the operation of the invention is deemed apparent. When it is desired to lift a patient, the rails or tracks 36 and 38 are moved to the extended position in a, cantilever fashion. Then, the shafts 58 and 56 and their appurtenant structures, forming the carriage, is rolled on the tracks 36 and 38. The platform 38 is then lowered so that the patient is within the confines of the shafts 56 and 58.

The specially provided sheet I8 is then lifted and the slots I2 positioned on the protuberances 68. The ratchet construction is then moved to the. proper position to permit winding of the shaft in opposite direction. However, the ratchet construction prohibits inadvertant rotation of the shafts in the undesired direction.

Whenthe patient is so'lifted along with the sheet I8, the carriage including the shafts 56 and 58 is rolled in the grooves 34 and 34' until the-entire patient, mechanism and sheet is directly on the platform 38. Then the rollingly supported chassis I4 may carry the patient (by being pushed) to another location.

When it is desired to lower the patient, the reverse operation takes place, the entire sheet I8 being deposited with the patient to the next desired position.

While there has been described and illustrated but a preferred form of the invention, it, is intended that variations may, be made without departing fromthe spirit thereof. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with th scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asnewis:

1. A patient handling apparatus comprising a rollingly supported chassis including a jack, a platform with a pair of spaced parallel guides having grooves therein, means for securing said platform to said chassis for vertical movement, means operatively connecting said platform and said jack to raise and lower said platform, rails, means including hinges with vertical hinge pins securing said rails to the ends of said guides, a sheet for supporting a patient, means for rollingly supporting said sheet on said platform and rails, the last-mentioned means including a pair of shafts, means for attaching opposed edges of said sheet to said shafts, means for rotatin one of said shafts, and means for locking said one of said shafts in selected positions of rotation, said rails having grooves therein matching with the grooves in said guides as continuations thereof, and said grooves being adapted to accommodate said rollingly supporting means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and means operatively connected with said guides and said rails at the hinged junctions thereof for retaining said guides and said rails in alignment in one position of adjustment of the rails with respect to the guides.

3. The combination of claim 1 and a support bracket secured to each of said rails, said brackets having a substantially horizontal portion underlying a part of said guides to align the junction of said rails and said guides when the rails are in axial alignment with the guides.

SEBREN B. DEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 658,547 Countryman July 10, 1900 793,168 Abrams June 27, 1905 936,107 Floyd Oct. 5, 1909 1,138,582 Sleicher May 4, 1915 1,263,611 Scroggin Apr. 23, 1918 2,450,971 Letch Oct. 12, 1948 

